MCN staff top bikes of 2012

Published: 21 December 2012

2012 was a good year for new bikes. Ducati promised to move the superbike game up a league with the 1199 Panigale and MV Agusta brought out the 675 F3 to compete against the Triumph Daytona 675 and the rest of the supersport class.

Here, a handful of MCN staff detail their favourite bikes of 2012. Let us know your favourite bike of 2012 in the comments below.

Andy Downes, Senior ReporterBMW didn’t really need to change the S1000RR as it was already an awesome bit of kit but it went ahead and gave it a thorough going over anyway with improved electronics and even better suspension to up-the-ante in the superbike class even more.

Ducati’s technological tour-de-force the 1199 Panigale was soundly beaten by the class leading BMW. Making an even better S1000RR will be a tough job.

Phil West, Executive EditorIt may not have dusted all-comers in terms of performance as its hype led us to believe, but as a work of motorcycle art, an exercise in technological genius (everything from the all-new oversquare V-twin, to the monocoque chassis and electronics are a quantum leap forward) and as an object of sheer desire, the 1199 is head and shoulders above everything else.

Bikes as significant as this don't come along very often. We should revel in this while it's still fresh.

Liam Marsden, Web ProducerThe KTM 990SMR, without any shadow of a doubt. Before I’d ridden it I didn’t think any bike would get close to my longterm 690 Duke, but the 990SMR is just a Duke on steroids.

The engine is quite frankly ridiculous, the handling assured yet sharp and the brakes eye-poppingly good.

The only downside? I couldn’t get 90 miles without the fuel light coming on. But it’s a price Id willingly pay for so much fun with every twist of the throttle.